Patient interface having an integrated system for communicating data to a ventilator

1. A medical device, comprising:

a patient interface device for use in a breathing assistance system, the patient interface device including:

a connection end configured to receive gas communicated by a gas delivery apparatus, the connection end having a plurality of contacts; and

a patient end configured to be inserted into one or more breathing passageways of a patient;

a plurality of electronic devices embedded within a sidewall of the patient interface device proximate the patient end, the plurality of electronic devices configured to generate electrical signals and comprising at least one memory device and at least one signal processor, wherein the at least one signal processor is physically separate from the at least one memory device and is configured to process signals received from the at least one memory device; and

one or more electrical conductors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device, the one or more electrical conductors coupling the plurality of electronic devices to the plurality of contacts to facilitate communication of the electrical signals from the one or more electronic devices to the gas delivery apparatus when the patient interface device is communicatively coupled to the gas delivery apparatus.

2. A medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrical conductors define a portion of an electrical circuit between the plurality of electronic devices and the gas delivery apparatus when the patient interface device is communicatively coupled to the gas delivery apparatus.

3. A medical device according to claim 1 , comprising one or more sensors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device, wherein the one or more sensors are physically separate from the at least one signal processor.

4. A medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to produce electrical signals corresponding to one or more patient parameters.

5. A medical device according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to produce electrical signals corresponding to one or more parameters regarding gas flowing through the patient interface device.

6. A medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contacts comprise a plurality of electrical connectors proximate the connection end of the patient interface device.

7. A medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the connection end of the patient interface device is configured to connect to, and to receive gas from, a connection system configured to transfer gas from the gas delivery device to the patient interface device.

8. A medical device according to claim 7 , wherein

the connection end of the patient interface device is configured to complete an electrical connection between the one or more electrical conductors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device and one or more electrical conductors embedded within a sidewall of the connection system.

9. A medical device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the connection end of the patient interface device is configured to receive gas from a connector configured to attach the patient interface device to one or more components of a connection system; and

the connection end of the patient interface device is configured to complete an electrical connection between the one or more electrical conductors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device and one or more electrical conductors embedded within a sidewall of the connector.

10. A medical device according to claim 1 , comprising one or more circuitry components configured to produce electrical signals for communication via the one or more electrical conductors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device.

11. A medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the patient interface device comprises an endotracheal tube having the sidewall.

12. A medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the patient interface device comprises an orotracheal tube having the sidewall.

13. A medical device according to claim 1 , wherein the patient interface device comprises a nasotracheal tube having the sidewall.

14. A medical device comprising:

patient interfacing means for interfacing with a patient to deliver gas to the patient, the patient interfacing means being a physical device and including a connection end configured for receiving gas communicated by a gas delivery means and a patient end configured for insertion into one or more breathing passageways of the patient, the connection end having plurality of contacts;

signal producing means for producing electrical signals, the signal producing means being embedded within a sidewall of the patient interfacing means proximate the patient end, wherein the signal producing means comprises at least one memory device and at least one signal processor, and wherein the at least one signal processor is physically separate from the at least one memory device and is configured to process signals received from the at least one memory device; and

conducting means for facilitating communication of electrical signals between the signal producing means and the gas delivery means via the plurality of contacts when the patient interfacing means is communicatively coupled to the gas delivery means, the conducting means at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interfacing means.

15. A system, comprising:

gas delivery apparatus configured to communicate gas toward a patient;

a connection interface configured to:

provide a physical interface configured to communicatively couple the gas delivery apparatus to a patient interface device such that gas may be delivered from the gas delivery apparatus to the patient interface device, the patient interface device having a connection end configured to couple to the connection interface and a patient end configured to be disposed proximate the patient, the connection end having a plurality of contacts; and

provide an electrical interface configured to receive electrical signals from a plurality of electronic devices embedded within a sidewall of the patient interface device proximate the patient end and electrically coupled to the plurality of contacts, wherein the plurality of electronic devices comprise at least one memory device and at least one signal processor, and wherein the at least one signal processor is physically separate from the at least one memory device and is configured to process signals received from the at least one memory device; and

a gas delivery control system configured to:

receive the electrical signals from the plurality of electronic devices embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device via the connection interface; and

control a function of the gas delivery apparatus based at least on the electrical signals received from the one or more electronic devices.

16. A system according to claim 15 , wherein:

the connection interface is configured to provide the electrical interface for receiving electrical signals communicated by one or more sensors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device, wherein the one or more sensors are physically separate from the at least one signal processor; and

the gas delivery control system is configured to control the gas delivery apparatus based at least on the electrical signals received from the one or more sensors.

17. A system according to claim 15 , wherein:

the connection interface is configured to provide an electrical interface configured to receive electrical signals communicated by the at least one signal processor embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device; and

the gas delivery control system is configured to control the gas delivery apparatus based at least on the electrical signals received from the at least one signal processor.

18. A medical device, comprising:

a gas delivery apparatus configured to deliver gas toward a patient;

a patient interface device communicatively coupled to the gas delivery apparatus, the patient interface device having a connection end configured to couple to the gas delivery apparatus and a patient end configured to be disposed proximate the patient;

a plurality of electronic devices embedded within a sidewall of the patient interface device proximate the patient end and configured to produce electrical signals, wherein the plurality of electronic devices comprise at least one memory device and at least one signal processor, and wherein the at least one signal processor is physically separate from the at least one memory device and is configured to process signals received from the at least one memory device; and

an electrical circuit configured to communicate the electrical signals from the plurality of electronic devices to the gas delivery apparatus, the electrical circuit having a plurality of contacts proximate the connection end of the patient interface device and having a plurality of electrical conductors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device to couple the plurality of contacts to the plurality of electronic devices.

19. A medical device according to claim 18 , comprising one or more sensors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device, wherein the one or more sensors are physically separate from the at least one signal processor.

20. A medical device according to claim 18 , further comprising a gas delivery control system configured to control a function of the gas delivery apparatus based at least on electrical signals received from the one or more electronic devices via the electrical circuit.

21. A method of communicating data in a breathing assistance system, comprising:

operating a system comprising:

a patient interface device configured to be used in a breathing assistance system, the patient interface device comprising:

a connection end configured to receive gas communicated by a gas delivery apparatus, the connection end having a plurality of contacts; and

a patient end configured to be inserted into one or more breathing passageways of a patient;

a plurality of electronic devices embedded within a sidewall of the patient interface device proximate the patient end, the plurality of electronic devices configured to generate electrical signals and comprising at least one memory device and at least one signal processor, and wherein the at least one signal processor is physically separate from the at least one memory device and is configured to process signals received from the at least one memory device; and

one or more electrical conductors at least partially embedded within the sidewall of the patient interface device, the one or more electrical conductors coupling the plurality of electronic devices to the plurality of contacts to facilitate communication of the electrical signals from the plurality of electronic devices to the gas delivery apparatus when the patient interface device is communicatively coupled to the gas delivery apparatus; and

communicating the electrical signals between the plurality of electronic devices and the gas delivery apparatus via the one or more electrical conductors.